Compressed-fluid starting apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



F. E. TEN EYCK. COMPRESSED FLUID STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, I915- 1,2QQ,54;1 Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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F. E. TEN EYCK. COMPRESSED FLUID STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNALcomsusnou ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. l9l5- Patented Oct.10,1916.

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FRANK E. TEN EYCK, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AIR DEVICE MANUFAC-TUBING- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COMPRESSED-FLUID STARTING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed May 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. TEN Even, a citizen of the United States,residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressed- FluidStarting Apparatus for Internal- Combustion Engines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter set forth,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate oneform in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, slightmodification thereof, and the said invention is fully disclosed in thefollowing description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofan internal combustion engine and compressed fluid starting mechanismtherefor. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of one of the spark plugs,one of the automatic compressed fluid inlet valves, showing the mannerin which they are both connected to the spark plug aperture of thecylinder, a portion of which appears in the figure. Fig. 3 is a similarview representing a modification, the parts being shown in section.

The general form of starting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1 is shownand described in my former application No. 22,551, filed on April 20,1915, in which the general fea tures of the apparatus are claimed.

My present invention is directed to a novel construction and combinationof parts, whereby the compressed fluid for starting the engine isadmitted to a cylinder or each cylinder of the engine through the sparkplug aperture thereof and in such proximity to the contacts of theigniter that the compressed fluid as it enters the cylinder, will sweepover the said contacts, which are directly in its path, thereby cleaningthem and freeing them from moisture, dust, carbon, or any foreign matterwhich might tend to interfere with the efiicient action of the igniter.

My improved construction also contemplates the provision of means forintroducing the priming charge through the same Specification of LettersPatent.

and a Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 27,514.

aperture in the cylinder, and by this means the cylinder heads can beformed with a single aperture and my improvements can be advantageouslyapplied to engines already built which are provided with only a singleaperture in the cylinder head, without mak- 1ng a special aperturetherein, for the in troduction of the compressed fluid or for theintroduction of a priming charge.

Referring briefly to said Fig. l, l represents the internal combustionengine provided with cylinders 2, 3, i, and

9 represents a pump or compressor operatively connected with the engineshaft and capable of being actuated by the engine when the latter isrunning, to compress air which passes through a pipe 18 and through acontrolling valve 60, mounted on a steering head and controlled by ahand lever 72, adjacent to the steering wheel, the compressed airpassing from the valve through a pipe 80 to a storage tank, indi-.

cated at 19. The compressed air from the tank may be transmitted by theproper operation of the valve 60 through a starter pipe line 38 to adistributer 22 mounted on the pump and operated by connections with theengine, from which it passes by a series of distributing pipes 2 3, P,and 5 to the automatic inlet valve 93. In the construction shown in Fig.1, the connection between each of these inlet valves and the adjacentengine cylinder is through the spark plug aperture which is providedwith a fitting 91 to receive a spark plug 90, and also the inlet valve93, and in this instance the said fitting is provided with a threadedportion 91*, see Fig. 2, upon which the inlet valve is screwed. In theform of my invention shown in Fig. 2, this inlet valve comprises acylindrical body having between its ends a reduced central aperture 93communicating with the cylindrical chamber 93 at the upper end of thecylindrical body, and a chamber 93 at the lower end thereof, and a valveseat 94 is provided at the lower end of this neck or reduced aperture toreceive a conical valve 95 formed upon the lower end or secured to avalve stem which is provided with a guiding portion 95 having a slidingengagement with the reduced passage 93 the valve stem being reducedbetween said guiding portions and the valve 95, so as to form an annular1 the valve stem.

passage surrounding the valve stem within the passage 93, at which pointthe valve casing or body is provided with an inlet aperture 104 intowhich one of the distributing pipes for the compressed fluid, as 8, ietc., is attached. The upper part of the valve stem is provided with apiston member 96 which is preferably provided with an integral body 96of slightly less diameter than the chamber 93, and this body is cured tothe upper end of the valve stem by a threaded connection, in thisinstance the said body being provided with a threaded recess to receivea threaded extension 95 of On the exterior of the reduced body portion96, I provide a sliding piston ring 102, and between the piston ring andthe piston head 96, 1 provide a ring of compressible packing 108. Withinthe chamber 93 1 also provide spring 101 which bears on one end againstthe bottom of the chamber and at its upper end against the piston ring102 so that this spring performs two functions, to wit, that of holdingthe valve 95 firmly up against its seat, and also that of compressingthe packing 103 between the ring 109 and the piston head 90.

The upper end of the valve body is closed and provided with a suitableinlet aperture, and in this instance, I have shown it provided with acap 98 screwed onto the valve body and provided with a passage 99extending transversely through the same and through a threadedconnection 90 at either side of the cap, and the passage 99 is connectedby a vertical passage 100 with the chamber 93 directly above the pistonhead 96.

The upper end of the valve is adapted to be connected with the source ofcompressed fluid at the same time that compressed fluid is admitted tothe inlet aperture 101 so that the accumulated pressure will first beexerted on the head of the piston 96 and caused to open the valve 95,thereby admitting the compressed fluid entering at the aperture 104; tothe chamber 93 and thence to the cylinder of the engine. As indicated inFig. 1, the several inlet valves have their threaded extensions 90connected by pipes 105, and with a by pass indicated at 107, which leadsto the controlling valve ('30 or to the starter pipe line 38 eitherdirectly or through said controlling valve, so that when air is admittedto the starter pipe line 38, it will also pass through the by pass 107,and thence to the piston cylinder of each of the automatic valves, so asto open the valves and permit the flow of compressed fluid thereto underthe control of the distributer, as fully set forth in my priorapplication above referred to.

The cylinder head, which is indicated at 6 in Fig. 2, is provided withathreaded aperture 7 for the accommodation of the spark plug, and intothis aperture is screwed the fitting 91 before referred to, the saidfitting having its upper end provided with an interiorly threadedportion 91, preferably of the same diameter as the aperture 7 and withthe same pitch of thread, to receive the lower threaded portion of thespark plug 90, the contacts 10 and 11 of the spark plug projectingdownwardly into the fitting 91 so that their adjacent portions aredirectly in line with the air passage 91 communicating with theautomatic air inlet valve 98 efore referred to, the fitting 91 beingpreferably provided with a lateral extension 91 through which thepassage 91 extemls and which terminates in the threaded portion 91, uponwhich the valve 93 is screwed. It follows from this construction thatthe compressed air or other motor fluid enter ing from the valve 93through the passage 91 must pass directly across and with considerablevelocity, the adjacent portions of the contacts 10 and 11 of the sparkplug between the spark, thus subjecting them to a blast of air each timethe valve 93 is opened in starting the engine, and serving to clean thepoints by removing grease and other foreign matter therefrom.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a well known form of spark plug having its mainbody hollowed out and forming a chamber 12 within the same, the upperend of which receives a cap 13 through which the terminal 11 extends,the terminal 10 projecting from the lower end of the main body of theplug. As it is frequently desirable to introduce a priming charge ofliquid fuel into the cylinder to assist in starting the engine under itsown explosive power, in addition to turning it over by means of thecompressed fluid, I prefer to provide for the introduction of suchpriming charge, also at a point adjacent to the contacts of the igniterand through the i gniter aperture in the cylinder head 7 It is obviousthat in the construc tion herein shown and described this result will beaccomplished by admitting the priming charge either to the interior ofthe spark plug chamber 19 of the spark plug 10, or into the casing ofthe automatic valve below the valve thereof, but in Fig. 2, for example,

I have shown the side wall of the sparkplug body provided with anaperture 1% through which extends a pipe or nipple 15 connected to apriming cup 16 provided with a detachable closure 17 which can beremoved for the insertion of a priming charge, while the engine isstationary, and the closure replaced before the engine is started. Inthis case it will be noted that the priming charge passes in closeproximity to the contacts 10 and 11, but the blasts of air admittedthrough the passage 91 for turning over the engine will effectuallycleanse the contacts from any adhering liquid fuel.

In Fig. 3' I have shown a slight modification of my invention in whichthe fitting 91 is dispensed with and the automatic air valve isconnected by an angular fitting 20 with an aperture 21 in the side wallof the spark plug communicating with the interior chamber 12- thereof,while the spark plug body is provided on the opposite side with apriming cup 16 as in Fig. 2. In this instance blasts of air from theautomatic air inlet valve 93 will pass down through the hollow body ofthe spark plug itself and over and around the contacts, here indicatedat 10 and 11 so as to remove oil, liquid fuel, or other foreign mattertherefrom, and assist in keeping the contacts clean.

The particular form of automatic air inlet valve herein shown anddescribed is not particularlyclaimed herein as the same forms thesubject matter of another application.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In acompressed fluid starting mechanism for internal combustion engines thecombination with an engine cylinder provided with a spark plug aperture,a spark plug provided with ignition contacts supported adjacent to saidaperture for firing the normal explosive charges of the engine, acompressed air supply for starting the engine by fluid pressureindependent of the means for supplying charges of explosive materialtherefor, a normally closed inlet valve connected to the cylinderthrough the spark plug aperture, connections from said compressed airsupply to said inlet valve, means for opening said inlet valve to permitthe operation of the starting mechanism, a distributer interposed insaid connections, means for connecting said distributer in timedrelation with a shaft of the engine, and a controlling valve for saidconnections, a priming device for supplying explosive material to theengine cylinder independent of the means for supplying the normalcharges of explosive material therefor, and connections from saidpriming device to the spark plug aperture, whereby the startingmechanism and priming device are connected to the cylinder without thenecessity of forming an additional aperture therein, and whereby thecompressed fluid admitted in starting will clean the ignition contacts.

2. In compressed fluid startingi mechanism for internal combustionengines, the combination with a cylinder provided with a spark plugaperture, a spark plug provided with ignition contacts supportedadjacent to said aperture, a compressed fluid supply for starting theengine independent of the means for supplying the normal charges ofexplosive material therefor, an automatic air inlet valve connected withsaid spark plug aperture by a passage in line with and adj a cent tosaid contacts, connections between the fluid supply and said automaticvalve, a distributer having a timed relation with the engine when inoperative relation therewith, interposed in said connections, betweensaid compressed fluid supply and said distributer, said automatic valvebeing provided with an actuating cylinder and piston, and a by passbetween said connections and said actuating cylinder of the automaticvalve.

3. In a compressed fluid starting mechanism for internal combustionengines, the combination with an engine cylinder, provided with a sparkplug aperture, of a hollow fitting provided at one end with anexteriorly threaded portion corresponding to the threaded portion of aspark plug, for engaging said aperture, and also provided with aninteriorly threaded portion to receive the threaded portion of a sparkplug, said fitting being also provided with a compressed air passagecommunicating with its interior, and with said cylinder, and with athreaded terminal portion adjacent to the outer end of said passage, acompressed air supply for starting the engine by fluid pressure,independent of the means for supplying the normal charges of explosivematerial therefor, connections from said compressed air-supply to saidthreaded terminal portion of said fitting, communicating with said airpassage therein, a distributer interposed in said connections, means forconnecting said distributer in timed relation with a shaft of the engineand a controlling valve for said connections.

4. In a compressed fluid starting mechanism for internal combustionengines, the combination with an engine cylinder, provided with a sparkplug aperture, of a hollow fitting provided at one end with anexteriorly threaded portion corresponding to the threaded portion of aspark plug, for engaging said aperture, and at the other end with aninteriorly threaded portion to receive a spark plug, a spark plugengaging said interiorly threaded portion of the fitting, said fittingbeing provided with a lateral portion having a threaded portion at itsouter end and containing an inclined air passage extending from saidthreaded portion to the interior of the fitting and discharging thereinin line with the portion of the contacts of the spark plug between whichthe spark is formed, an automatic inlet valve secured to the threadedouter end of the said lateral portion of said fitting, and provided witha cylinder and a valve operating piston therein, a compressed air supplyfor starting the engine by fluid pressure independent of the means forsupplying the normal charges of explosive material therefor, connectionsbetween said compressed air supply and said inlet valve, a distribu- Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature, ter in said connections, meansfor connectin the presence of tWo Witnesses. 111g said distributor intimed relation with a FRANK E TEN EYOK shaft of the engine, acontrolling valve for said connections, and a by-pass from said\Vitnesses: connections to the cylinder of the automatic MATIE F. DAVEY,inlet valve. V. C. GATES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C.

